Kitten named Survivor clings to owner amid Florence flood rescue

Robert Simmons and his cat Survivor were stuck in their New Bern home when floodwaters began to rise.

Author:
WCNC Staff

Published:
8:31 PM EDT September 15, 2018

Updated:
8:36 PM EDT September 15, 2018

NEW BERN, N.C. (AP) — People aren't the only ones being pulled from floodwaters in parts of eastern North Carolina inundated by Florence .

Rescuers are helping pets to safety, too, including one aptly named kitten: Survivor.

The News & Observer in Raleigh reported that Robert Simmons Jr. was among those seeking refuge Friday afternoon in New Bern, a city near the coast that's bordered by two rivers and has been swamped with water.

Robert Simmons Jr. and his kitten "Survivor" are rescued from floodwaters after Hurricane Florence dumped several inches of rain in the area overnight, Friday, Sept. 14, 2018 in New Bern, N.C.

The newspaper reports Simmons climbed into a rescue boat with Survivor. Photos and video showed the tiny animal drenched, mewing and clinging to Simmons.

Andrew Carter, the reporter who took the photo, said he had almost stopped covering the boat rescues before meeting Robert and Survivor.

Still overwhelmed by response to the photo. Some back story: I was ready to bail on covering a boat rescue. Had been on two false alarms with @vizjourno. Was cold and wet. He persuaded me to do one last one. That's when we met Robert. Moral is to keep searching for the (a) story.

Volunteers from all over North Carolina help rescue residents and their pets from their flooded homes during Hurricane Florence September 14, 2018 in New Bern, North Carolina. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Volunteers from all over North Carolina help rescue residents and their pets from their flooded homes during Hurricane Florence September 14, 2018 in New Bern, North Carolina. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Volunteers from all over North Carolina help rescue residents and their pets from their flooded homes during Hurricane Florence September 14, 2018 in New Bern, North Carolina. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Volunteers from all over North Carolina help rescue residents and their pets from their flooded homes during Hurricane Florence September 14, 2018 in New Bern, United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Members of the North Carolina National Guard 105th Military Police Battalion from Asheville search for evacuees during Hurricane Florence September 14, 2018 in Fairfield Harbour, North Carolina. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Members of the North Carolina National Guard 105th Military Police Battalion from Asheville help an evacuee into a truck during Hurricane Florence September 14, 2018 in Fairfield Harbour, North Carolina. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Rescue workers and volunteers from the Civilian Crisis Response Team use a truck to move people rescued from their flooded homes during Hurricane Florence September 14, 2018 in James City, United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Rescue workers and volunteers from the Civilian Crisis Response Team help rescue a woman and her dog from their flooded home during Hurricane Florence September 14, 2018 in James City, United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Rescue workers and volunteers from the Civilian Crisis Response Team use a boat to rescue a woman and her dog from their flooded home during Hurricane Florence September 14, 2018 in James City, United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Volunteers from the Civilian Crisis Response Team help rescue three children from their flooded home September 14, 2018 in James City, United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Volunteer Amber Hersel from the Civilian Crisis Response Team helps rescue 7-year-old Keiyana Cromartie and her family from their flooded home September 14, 2018 in James City, United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Volunteers from all over North Carolina help rescue residents from their flooded homes during Hurricane Florence September 14, 2018 in New Bern, North Carolina. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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Volunteers from all over North Carolina help rescue residents and their pets from their flooded homes during Hurricane Florence September 14, 2018 in New Bern, North Carolina. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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Volunteers from all over North Carolina help rescue residents and their pets from their flooded homes during Hurricane Florence September 14, 2018 in New Bern, North Carolina. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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Volunteers from all over North Carolina help rescue residents and their pets from their flooded homes during Hurricane Florence September 14, 2018 in New Bern, North Carolina. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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Volunteers from all over North Carolina help rescue residents and their pets from their flooded homes during Hurricane Florence September 14, 2018 in New Bern, United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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Members of the North Carolina National Guard 105th Military Police Battalion from Asheville search for evacuees during Hurricane Florence September 14, 2018 in Fairfield Harbour, North Carolina. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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Members of the North Carolina National Guard 105th Military Police Battalion from Asheville help an evacuee into a truck during Hurricane Florence September 14, 2018 in Fairfield Harbour, North Carolina. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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Rescue workers and volunteers from the Civilian Crisis Response Team use a truck to move people rescued from their flooded homes during Hurricane Florence September 14, 2018 in James City, United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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Rescue workers and volunteers from the Civilian Crisis Response Team help rescue a woman and her dog from their flooded home during Hurricane Florence September 14, 2018 in James City, United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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Rescue workers and volunteers from the Civilian Crisis Response Team use a boat to rescue a woman and her dog from their flooded home during Hurricane Florence September 14, 2018 in James City, United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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Volunteers from the Civilian Crisis Response Team help rescue three children from their flooded home September 14, 2018 in James City, United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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Volunteer Amber Hersel from the Civilian Crisis Response Team helps rescue 7-year-old Keiyana Cromartie and her family from their flooded home September 14, 2018 in James City, United States. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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Volunteers from all over North Carolina help rescue residents from their flooded homes during Hurricane Florence September 14, 2018 in New Bern, North Carolina. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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